Bought a new Subaru

K

kaboom

I purchased a 2011 Subaru Forester Premium (Pzev) yesterday. My
Impreza went off-lease therefore, I had to make a decision. So, if
anyone wants a 2008 Subaru Impreza hatchback (5 speed) with 10,200
miles on it, email Center Subaru in CT. The Impreza is Newport Blue
Pearl and has nothing wrong with it.

The Forester came with the All-Weather Package, body molding and a
bumper cover. It's Obsidian Black Pearl with a black interior. That
should be fun when my yellow lab is rolling around the back seat.
Hmm, it's still listed online:

http://www.centersubaru.com/new/Subaru/2011-Subaru-Forester-8589da5e0a0d06490190b03c0de295f1.htm
 
kaboom said:
I purchased a 2011 Subaru Forester Premium (Pzev) yesterday. My
Impreza went off-lease therefore, I had to make a decision. So, if
anyone wants a 2008 Subaru Impreza hatchback (5 speed) with 10,200
miles on it, email Center Subaru in CT. The Impreza is Newport Blue
Pearl and has nothing wrong with it.

The Forester came with the All-Weather Package, body molding and a
bumper cover. It's Obsidian Black Pearl with a black interior. That
should be fun when my yellow lab is rolling around the back seat.
Hmm, it's still listed online:

http://www.centersubaru.com/new/Subaru/2011-Subaru-Forester-8589da5e0a0d06490190b03c0de295f1.htm

Congratulations.

What's your opinion on leasing versus buying...pros cons?
 
Congratulations.

What's your opinion on leasing versus buying...pros cons?

Hey Tim. For me, leasing got me over a job-change hump so to speak. I
had a previous 2005 Impreza, which I had purchased, but the payment
got a tad unwieldy when my workplace closed down. So I got rid of the
2005, even though I didn't want to, and I leased the 2008.

My personal Pro vs Con. Pro = Lower payments for a very decent, new
car! And, yay, a warranty! Like I said, it got me over the hump while
I had a smaller paycheck and, in the meantime, I saved to put a nice
chunk down on the Forester. Con = For me, I worried a lot about damage
to the car as I had to park 5-6 days a week in a grocery store parking
lot. The things I've seen, Tim! That said, my worry paid off as the
car is amazing. Only a mark on the front bumper from dear old Mom.

For most people, I think some of the Pros are a new vehicle that has a
warranty for as long as you have it and then you get to hand it back
with the choice to lease again or buy. It may also put you into a car
that you might not be able to afford otherwise.

Cons = You've paid into a car that you don't get to keep. If you lease
all the time, you'll always have a car payment. This knocks leasing
off of most people's agendas. You have to be careful of damage and,
most importantly, mileage! I think some people woefully underestimate
the amount of mileage they'll be using.

It depends on what kind of person you are and what you expect from
your vehicle. Many people tend to disparage leases, but I do think
they have their place depending on what you need.

If you have anymore questions about leasing let me know.

kaboomie
 
kaboom said:
Hey Tim. For me, leasing got me over a job-change hump so to speak. I
had a previous 2005 Impreza, which I had purchased, but the payment
got a tad unwieldy when my workplace closed down. So I got rid of the
2005, even though I didn't want to, and I leased the 2008.

My personal Pro vs Con. Pro = Lower payments for a very decent, new
car! And, yay, a warranty! Like I said, it got me over the hump while
I had a smaller paycheck and, in the meantime, I saved to put a nice
chunk down on the Forester. Con = For me, I worried a lot about damage
to the car as I had to park 5-6 days a week in a grocery store parking
lot. The things I've seen, Tim! That said, my worry paid off as the
car is amazing. Only a mark on the front bumper from dear old Mom.

For most people, I think some of the Pros are a new vehicle that has a
warranty for as long as you have it and then you get to hand it back
with the choice to lease again or buy. It may also put you into a car
that you might not be able to afford otherwise.

Cons = You've paid into a car that you don't get to keep. If you lease
all the time, you'll always have a car payment. This knocks leasing
off of most people's agendas. You have to be careful of damage and,
most importantly, mileage! I think some people woefully underestimate
the amount of mileage they'll be using.

It depends on what kind of person you are and what you expect from
your vehicle. Many people tend to disparage leases, but I do think
they have their place depending on what you need.

If you have anymore questions about leasing let me know.

kaboomie
thanks
 
I purchased a 2011 Subaru Forester Premium (Pzev) yesterday. My
Impreza went off-lease therefore, I had to make a decision. So, if
anyone wants a 2008 Subaru Impreza hatchback (5 speed) with 10,200
miles on it, email Center Subaru in CT. The Impreza is Newport Blue
Pearl and has nothing wrong with it.

The Forester came with the All-Weather Package, body molding and a
bumper cover. It's Obsidian Black Pearl with a black interior. That
should be fun when my yellow lab is rolling around the back seat.
Hmm, it's still listed online:

http://www.centersubaru.com/new/Subaru/2011-Subaru-Forester-8589da5e0a0d06490190b03c0de295f1.htm


Hey, where the heck are you, kaboomie? Litchfield Co.?

Used to go through there all the time.

Wasted.... ;) (Winstead...)

I used to live in Pittsfield MA and work in Bloomfield, and going 8 to 44
was a HELL of a lot easier than going across the Dexter Coffin....
 
Hey, where the heck are you, kaboomie? Litchfield Co.?

**Yes. Therefore you understand the need for a Subaru.
Used to go through there all the time.

Wasted.... ;) (Winstead...)

**Drove fast through Winsted, didn't ya? :) Only to escape, of course.
I used to live in Pittsfield MA and work in Bloomfield, and going 8 to 44
was a HELL of a lot easier than going across the Dexter Coffin....

**Agreed. Used to do the 8 to 44 when I was driving from MI to CT and
vice versa. It's rather scenic as well.

kaboomie
 
**Yes. Therefore you understand the need for a Subaru.


**Drove fast through Winsted, didn't ya? :) Only to escape, of course.


**Agreed. Used to do the 8 to 44 when I was driving from MI to CT and
vice versa. It's rather scenic as well.

kaboomie


Oh, yeah. It snows up there!

Have you taken delivery yet?
 
Oh, yeah. It snows up there!

Have you taken delivery yet?

**Yes. I'd been checking their website regularly and I saw that they
got a shipment on Friday. Drove in on Saturday around 10:30am and
drove off the lot around 12:45pm with the Forester. It went really
amazingly quick. The most important part was that I had a notebook
filled with MSRP and invoice prices. I also made a spreadsheet
containing prices + fees/downpayments/loan length/interest rate =
monthly payments as a quick guide for myself. I could check their
figures against my own. Everything was pretty painless. I did have to
go return plates to the DMV this morning though :)

kaboomie
 
I purchased a 2011 Subaru Forester Premium (Pzev) yesterday. My
Impreza went off-lease therefore, I had to make a decision. So, if
anyone wants a 2008 Subaru Impreza hatchback (5 speed) with 10,200
miles on it, email Center Subaru in CT. The Impreza is Newport Blue
Pearl and has nothing wrong with it.

The Forester came with the All-Weather Package, body molding and a
bumper cover. It's Obsidian Black Pearl with a black interior. That
should be fun when my yellow lab is rolling around the back seat.
Hmm, it's still listed online:

http://www.centersubaru.com/new/Subaru/2011-Subaru-Forester-8589da5e0...


Congrats!

Is it also a manual?

Would love to hear about the new engine power and performance
versus the old 2.5L in your Impreza 5 speed. I am thinking
about a Forester 5 speed, myself. Currently drive a 2000
Impreza 2.2L Coupe automatic.

The new engine is supposed to be a more responsive dual
overhead cam design, with timing chain, and hopefully free
from any head gasket issues (I've heard this issue has been
specifically addressed). Very tempting proposition, the
new Forester!

Basia
 
Congrats!

**Thanks. By the way, Center Subaru posted up my car and I'm amazed at
how low the price is and the fact that they mislabeled the color as
spark silver :) There's another manual 2.5i with 35K on the odometer
and it's listed at $16,4XX. Mine has 10,215 and it's listed as
$14,998. Both are the basic model. Now I feel a bit pissed that I went
so out of my way to keep the car beautiful :-D
Is it also a manual?

**Yes, it is. I rather enjoy driving a manual and you can't beat
saving $1000. Though I did splurge a bit and get the Premium version.
If you're in the US, I think you can wrangle a 2011 for under invoice.
Would love to hear about the new engine power and performance
versus the old 2.5L in your Impreza 5 speed. I am thinking
about a Forester 5 speed, myself. Currently drive a 2000
Impreza 2.2L Coupe automatic.

The new engine is supposed to be a more responsive dual
overhead cam design, with timing chain, and hopefully free
from any head gasket issues (I've heard this issue has been
specifically addressed). Very tempting proposition, the
new Forester!

**Funny you should ask this ;) I was emailing my brother-in-law and I
told him: You're not going to be believe this but I think that the car
is more sprightly and far more fun to drive than the Impreza! It's
quicker and the speed is so subtle. You *will* drive over the speed
limit completely unintentionally. I think it handles amazingly for its
size and rides really well.

If I have a quibble, it's that I really feel nothing through the
clutch pedal. It's disconcerting, but I haven't really driven the car
a lot. I'm not used to it. The inside is similar enough to the Impreza
that I'm not lost, but the Forester's chock full of goodies compared
to it.

Neither of my parents ever said a word about my Impreza, good or bad,
just another car blah blah (though they liked it's AWD capabilities).
On the other hand, they have been very vocal in their admiration for
the Forester. Seriously, Basia, if you can test drive one, do so!

Feel free to ask more questions about it if you want.

kaboomie
 
**Thanks. By the way, Center Subaru posted up my car and I'm amazed at
how low the price is and the fact that they mislabeled the color as
spark silver :) There's another manual 2.5i with 35K on the odometer
and it's listed at $16,4XX. Mine has 10,215 and it's listed as
$14,998. Both are the basic model. Now I feel a bit pissed that I went
so out of my way to keep the car beautiful :-D


**Yes, it is. I rather enjoy driving a manual and you can't beat
saving $1000. Though I did splurge a bit and get the Premium version.
If you're in the US, I think you can wrangle a 2011 for under invoice.



**Funny you should ask this ;) I was emailing my brother-in-law and I
told him: You're not going to be believe this but I think that the car
is more sprightly and far more fun to drive than the Impreza! It's
quicker and the speed is so subtle. You *will* drive over the speed
limit completely unintentionally. I think it handles amazingly for its
size and rides really well.

If I have a quibble, it's that I really feel nothing through the
clutch pedal. It's disconcerting, but I haven't really driven the car
a lot. I'm not used to it. The inside is similar enough to the Impreza
that I'm not lost, but the Forester's chock full of goodies compared
to it.

Neither of my parents ever said a word about my Impreza, good or bad,
just another car blah blah (though they liked it's AWD capabilities).
On the other hand, they have been very vocal in their admiration for
the Forester. Seriously, Basia, if you can test drive one, do so!

Feel free to ask more questions about it if you want.

kaboomie


Thanks for the reply.

Makes me kind-a want one, ...even though
just recently I wrote something like this:

I don't consider myself that old- Forester
is just out of the question.

It is a good car, though it has some problems.
The Impreza derived cage is rather weak, structurally,
for an SUV, and this leads to all sorts of interior
rattles, that can not be fixed. Putting a strut
tower brace, in front, might help stiffen the chassis
and prevent some of the rattles from developing.

Other than that, I think it a fine SUV.
Go for it if you like SUV's.


I think a 5-speed manual could add some fun and
change the standard SUV formula. I wonder if it
could be lowered a bit for better handling, maybe
just very low profile tires could do (?).

BTW, looks like my Impreze has blown a head gasket ;(

It does not overheat, yet, but after one long drive
it completely emptied the coolant reservoir, then on
another when I came to a stop I experienced the dreaded
bubbles in the coolant reservoir, ...bubbles coming from
underneath the radiator cap too. Some small amount of
oily residue is present in the reservoir. Short drives
seem to not affect it, and NAPA's testing kit, fluid,
detects no carbohydrates in the coolant.

I didn't expect this to happen at less than 80k miles
it being a 2.2L engine.

Should I try fix it if its really the gasket, or should
I just trade it for a new Forester, that seems to be the
question, on my mind.

Basia
 
**Funny you should ask this ;) I was emailing my brother-in-law and I
told him: You're not going to be believe this but I think that the car
is more sprightly and far more fun to drive than the Impreza! It's
quicker and the speed is so subtle. You *will* drive over the speed
limit completely unintentionally. I think it handles amazingly for its
size and rides really well.

Wow! Sounds like a Scion tC.

That does NOT go out in the snow! :( (I don't even wanna THINK of it!)
 
**Thanks. By the way, Center Subaru posted up my car and I'm amazed at
how low the price is and the fact that they mislabeled the color as
spark silver :) There's another manual 2.5i with 35K on the odometer
and it's listed at $16,4XX. Mine has 10,215 and it's listed as
$14,998. Both are the basic model. Now I feel a bit pissed that I went
so out of my way to keep the car beautiful :-D


**Yes, it is. I rather enjoy driving a manual and you can't beat
saving $1000. Though I did splurge a bit and get the Premium version.
If you're in the US, I think you can wrangle a 2011 for under invoice.



**Funny you should ask this ;) I was emailing my brother-in-law and I
told him: You're not going to be believe this but I think that the car
is more sprightly and far more fun to drive than the Impreza! It's
quicker and the speed is so subtle. You *will* drive over the speed
limit completely unintentionally. I think it handles amazingly for its
size and rides really well.

If I have a quibble, it's that I really feel nothing through the
clutch pedal. It's disconcerting, but I haven't really driven the car
a lot. I'm not used to it. The inside is similar enough to the Impreza
???

that I'm not lost, but the Forester's chock full of goodies compared
to it.

when neon did not sell but it's taller brother did due to better
polish
apparently FHI took notice of the trend. I like the looks,
if I were in the states I might have put that on my shopping list
(along with the STI springs)
Neither of my parents ever said a word about my Impreza, good or bad,
just another car blah blah (though they liked it's AWD capabilities).
On the other hand, they have been very vocal in their admiration for
the Forester. Seriously, Basia, if you can test drive one, do so!

Feel free to ask more questions about it if you want.
I assume the big fat sway bars front and back are already on order,
in case you hate body roll, that is.
 
Wow! Sounds like a Scion tC.

That does NOT go out in the snow! :( (I don't even wanna THINK of it!)

Can you spell Michelin X-Ice 2 (XI2) ?
Since you could not easily find Hakkapeliitta 7 and X-Ice North 2
(XIN2)
in the states. That rubber should turn your tC into a next best thing
to a snowplow.

For some reason tirerack folks prefer WS70 but I would think
that XI2 has the deep snow plowing perf second to none (except HKPL7
and XIN2).
 
On Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:28:50 -0700 (PDT), "(e-mail address removed)"

**Whoa! What a helluva storm! Just got power back today, it's been off
since Saturday night.

Thanks for the reply.

Makes me kind-a want one, ...even though
just recently I wrote something like this:

I don't consider myself that old- Forester
is just out of the question.

It is a good car, though it has some problems.
The Impreza derived cage is rather weak, structurally,
for an SUV, and this leads to all sorts of interior
rattles, that can not be fixed. Putting a strut
tower brace, in front, might help stiffen the chassis
and prevent some of the rattles from developing.

Other than that, I think it a fine SUV.
Go for it if you like SUV's.

**I remember you writing this and I thought: how old do you have to
be? :) So on my breaks and lunches, I would sit in my car and watch
Forester owners and I have to say, for my area Litchfield County, CT,
other than very young drivers, the drivers ranged from late 20s to the
elderly.
I think a 5-speed manual could add some fun and
change the standard SUV formula. I wonder if it
could be lowered a bit for better handling, maybe
just very low profile tires could do (?).

**So far, I really enjoy the handling. The steering is very responsive
and it has a great turning radius. That surprised me, honestly. I
thought it was going to be more, um, heavy feeling? More like a bigger
SUV, perhaps.

Being put to the test Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning: The car
was Bee-you-tee-ful in the snow. Seriously, aside from the a-hole
drivers that make me nervous in bad weather, the car put a smile on my
face. The weather here was a horror, I think we got about 20 inches.
The Saturday ride home was a joke, people can't drive worth a hoo-ha.
Granted, it was a blizzard and very slippery snow but people would
over accelerate or over brake and, thusly, be all over the road.

The Forester was flawless. The next morning was me charging through a
thick blanket of snow with a "Wheeee!" look on my face. The parking
lot wasn't plowed when I got there so I waited a bit but they had a
Bobcat trying to plow a massive store parking lot. Cripes. I finally
just shoved the car into my favorite space and hopped out. The front
end was up in the air :-D cuz the snow was so chunky. On my lunch, I
was sitting in my car having my sandwich and a guy and his kid walked
by the end of my car. The dad looked at my car and said: Now, that's
how you do it. :)
BTW, looks like my Impreze has blown a head gasket ;(

It does not overheat, yet, but after one long drive
it completely emptied the coolant reservoir, then on
another when I came to a stop I experienced the dreaded
bubbles in the coolant reservoir, ...bubbles coming from
underneath the radiator cap too. Some small amount of
oily residue is present in the reservoir. Short drives
seem to not affect it, and NAPA's testing kit, fluid,
detects no carbohydrates in the coolant.

I didn't expect this to happen at less than 80k miles
it being a 2.2L engine.

Should I try fix it if its really the gasket, or should
I just trade it for a new Forester, that seems to be the
question, on my mind.

**Test drive a 2011! Or wait for a 2012. They are going under invoice
on the 2011s if you can find a manual one. They didn't seem to want to
budge on the automatics. I bet you could get a nice 2.5X for $19-20K.

I've never had a car that's garnered so many comments and compliments
from my parents as this one. My dad loves it. I was watching TV and he
walked up to me and said: you know, I really love your car. :) I told
him I'd take him on a drive but then the storm hit so we rain checked
it.

kaboomie
 
Can you spell Michelin X-Ice 2 (XI2) ?
Since you could not easily find Hakkapeliitta 7 and X-Ice North 2
(XIN2)
in the states. That rubber should turn your tC into a next best thing
to a snowplow.

For some reason tirerack folks prefer WS70 but I would think
that XI2 has the deep snow plowing perf second to none (except HKPL7
and XIN2).


I have a s00b and an '89 Mazda. The tC does NOT go out in the snow!!!!!!!!!
 
On Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:28:50 -0700 (PDT), "(e-mail address removed)"

**Whoa! What a helluva storm! Just got power back today, it's been off
since Saturday night.

Mine went out Sat night and came back on Monday afternoon....

Some are still out.
 
BTW, looks like my Impreze has blown a head gasket ;(

It does not overheat, yet, but after one long drive
it completely emptied the coolant reservoir, then on
another when I came to a stop I experienced the dreaded
bubbles in the coolant reservoir, ...bubbles coming from
underneath the radiator cap too.  Some small amount of
oily residue is present in the reservoir.  Short drives
seem to not affect it, and NAPA's testing kit, fluid,
detects no carbohydrates in the coolant.


Replaced the 10 year old radiator cap and everything
went to normal, ...for now at least. I am keeping my
fingers crossed.

Basia
 
I finally
just shoved the car into my favorite space and hopped out. The front
end was up in the air :-D cuz the snow was so chunky. On my lunch, I
was sitting in my car having my sandwich and a guy and his kid walked
by the end of my car. The dad looked at my car and said: Now, that's
how you do it. :)

I did that many times in my 95 legacy without a hitch to claim the
space that had been partially filled by plowed snow. I learned that
then opening the door into plowed snow can be bad for it. I figured it
coudl ust push the snow out of hte way, and it does, but it gets
scraped up in the process with all the sand, rocks, and salt in that
plowed snow. It started with some light scrapes at the bottom, then
created bare metal, and being that salt and crud was able to get in
there, it wasn't long before I had rust there. So be careful of
beating on snow with your door, it can scrape the paint off and cause
real rust. Not saying you were, but sometimes parking on top of the
snow bank leads to it.

Just my two cents.

Bill
 
The Forester was flawless. The next morning was me charging through a
thick blanket of snow with a "Wheeee!" look on my face. The parking
lot wasn't plowed when I got there so I waited a bit but they had a
Bobcat trying to plow a massive store parking lot. Cripes. I finally
just shoved the car into my favorite space and hopped out. The front
end was up in the air :-D cuz the snow was so chunky. On my lunch, I
was sitting in my car having my sandwich and a guy and his kid walked
by the end of my car. The dad looked at my car and said: Now, that's
how you do it. :)


That's what SUVs are for, right?

I almost forgot this, as so many people drive them
like retirees, and in-fact many are retirees.
The Ford Explorer debacle and rollover prone design,
killed the perception of SUV fun, I guess.

BTW, reminded me of some early SUV commercial, from
the mid 1990s, where a young guy is at a toy store
with his son, and he discovers something for himself,
....a real Isuzu Trooper on the shelf. Nice :)))

Have fun,
Basia
 

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